hurry

[ hur-ee, huhr-ee ]

verb (used without object)

, hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

1. to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed by up ):

   Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.

verb (used with object)

, hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

1. to drive, carry, or cause to move or perform with speed.

   Synonyms: hasten

2. to hasten; urge forward (often followed by up ).

   Synonyms: hustle, expedite, quicken, accelerate

   Antonyms: slow, delay

3. to impel or perform with undue haste:

   to hurry someone into a decision.

noun

, plural hur·ries.

1. a state of urgency or eagerness:

   to be in a hurry to meet a train.

2. hurried movement or action; haste.

   Synonyms: quickness, ado, bustle, speed, dispatch, expedition, celerity

   Antonyms: deliberation

hurry

/ ˈhʌrɪ /

verb

1. introften foll byup to hasten (to do something); rush
2. troften foll byalong to speed up the completion, progress, etc, of

noun

1. haste
2. urgency or eagerness
3. in a hurry informal.
   1. easily

      you won't beat him in a hurry

   2. willingly

      we won't go there again in a hurry

Derived Forms

• ˈhurryingly, adverb
• ˈhurrying, nounadjective

Other Words From

• hurry·ing·ly adverb
• over·hurry verb overhurried overhurrying
• un·hurry·ing adjective
• un·hurry·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

First recorded in 1580–90; expressive word of uncertain origin, compare Middle English horyed (attested once) “rushed, impelled,” Middle High German hurren “to move quickly”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

C16 horyen, probably of imitative origin; compare Middle High German hurren; see scurry

Synonym Study

See rush ¹.

Example Sentences

On Friday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the economy is strong enough that policymakers don't need to be "in a hurry" to lower rates, bringing investors down to earth from the post-election high.

From Salon

Mr O'Hara said he immediately felt an "excruciating pain" but his visitor told him that was a normal reaction, then left in a hurry.

From BBC

Standard protocol when a critically ill patient experiences a miscarriage is to stabilize her and, in most cases, hurry to the operating room for delivery, medical experts said.

From Salon

It was just past 9 a.m. and Kanno, who is 63 and sports a flowing blond ponytail, had just hurried to his shop to tune into Game 4 of the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times

Hopefully he can hurry up and get it done.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dash
• hasten
• hustle
• jog
• rush
• scoot
• scurry
• whirl
• whisk
• zip